A client's ventilator alarm begins to ring. The nurse enters the room and notes that the "low expired minute volume" alarm is sounding. After quickly determining that the client is in no acute distress, the nurse would

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Possible causes of low expired minute volume include low spontaneous client breathing activity, leakage in the cuff, leakage in the client circuit, and improper alarm limit setting. The nurse should check cuff pressure and the client circuit, performing a leakage test if necessary, and check pause time and graphics to verify, while considering more ventilatory support for the client.

A Client's Ventilator Alarm Begins to Ring